reginos:
ISUK:
reginos:
Yes, I look at handling first but also at honest cars that don't pretend to be something else and don't raise driving expectations. A Bentley Continental GTCabrio for example is a luxurious convertible cruiser without sporty handling pretensions and I respect it for that.
So what would you classify a Bentley Continental GTC Speed as if not a luxurious convertible cruiser with sporty handling pretensions?
I don't think you'll find Maserati marketing this car as anything other than a grand tourer in the pure sense of the term.
Have you driven a GranTurismo or GranTurismo S for any prolonged length of time or are your observations based upon internet reports? Just curious as I've yet to meet anyone who's driven an S and not got out of it grinning like a school kid and saying that it has great handling for such a large car.
The GranTurismo did everything I wanted it to. It was a supremely comfortable long distance car and it drew admiring comments wherever I took it as it was understated and elegant. I never expected it to be a sports car but it was more than able to aquit itself well when driven hard on challenging roads. For me it had bags more character than any 911 I've owned and made each journey feel special. I only sold it as I decided I'd get more use from a California due to it's folding roof.
The Bentley is an opulent luxurious lifestyle cabrio, partly hand-made with british tradition and charm. It can surely eat up miles fast but no one buys it for its 0-200 time or its laptimes. OTOH the Maserati name alludes to sportiness, racing heritage, Modena supercars etc butl the current offerings of the marque are anything but the above.
I "attempted" to drive a GranTurismo on a cross country route (not the best road) and the car was very "loose fitting" for my taste. On the contrary I wear my 911 like a glove and it becomes one with me on every journey. On the same route the Cayman was great too and the R8 V8 excellent and easier to drive fast than the 911.
There is nothing totally right or fundamentally wrong in the cars we discuss here and we only express opinions. Similarly I respect your tastes and preferences.
I am attracted to the California too, because of its smaller size, its DCT and because of the allure of the Cavallino. BTW you know that the basis of the California was originally developed for a new convertible Maserati. In the end Ferrari wisely picked up the better foundation of a car and made Maserati cut the roof off the GranTurismo in order to put a convertible in the market. This says something?
' OTOH the Maserati name alludes to sportiness, racing heritage, Modena supercars etc butl the current offerings of the marque are anything but the above.'
I agree with some of your comments but I personally could not care less about the racing heritage of any manufacturer - all I care about is there CURRENT offering. And Maserati do a fantastic job on the GT and the GranCabrio. Sure the DB9 is gorgeous, the M6 can scare most road users (sounds awesome and flys) but for some people the luxury aspect is quite important, comfort and style are words that go hand in hand with Maserati - more so in the last 20 years than, sporty and performance. Having driven nearly all current offerings everything except the Scuderia I have to say, I am very impressed with Maserati, Aston and Audi. They have bought to the market place BRAND new products. Of course, as long as a motor has four wheels and a roof comparisons can and will be made. But something different or special is what I often talking to car enthusiasts.
Please remember, there were people who thought the 355 was the best Ferrari ever built. It was great and the one I LOVED the most but if you had to visit a friend in need in the other end of the country you would go in your F430 or even more reliable R8.
Incidentally, I spent the afternoon in the V10, it is awesome. The power difference between the V8 is substantial and the delivery much more 'real world' than the Gallardo which quite frankly driven at the limit can be a bit scary!
Lastly, if we all drove the same car it would be dead boring and we would have nothing to talk about! I am now looking at either the California, R8 or AMV8. Will support Blighty and go for the AMV8....at least thats what I feel like now.....
And in agreement with ISUK - if you get out of a GranTuriusmo S without smiling you must be missing your genitalia and can't manage a smile hell or hight water or just be an emotionless soul better off in a Subaru, Mitsubishi or Nissan. Plenty of heritage there for ya!
) it will be a big blow at AM.
